Introduction

New digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools are rapidly changing the way we work, develop products, and interact with our customers. Intelligent automation tools augment what people do at work and redefine what’s possible. As organizations navigate this complex digital transformation, learning & development (L&D) leaders are tasked with keeping employees up to speed with the ever-evolving skills ecosystem.

To uncover emerging trends and predict what’s required for 2019, we surveyed 400 L&D leaders to find out what they’re doing to prepare their workforce for this digital transformation. We also took a look at the hot new topics trending on our global Udemy marketplace of 24+ million learners and thousands of businesses. Based on this data, here are 5 learning trends and 5 learning predictions for 2019.

5

Learning trends for 2019

1

Businesses are now the architects of the future of work

With the rise of automation, the world of work is experiencing the largest job transition since the shift from agriculture to manufacturing jobs during the Industrial Revolution.

By 2030, as many as 375 million workers—or roughly 14 percent of the global workforce—may need to switch occupational categories as digitization, automation, and advances in artificial intelligence disrupt the world of work.

In our era of rapid technological change, learning & development’s (L&D) role is to train employees for jobs that don’t exist yet. L&D must become a well-oiled “reskilling machine” and provide the tools to constantly re-skill workers for new, emerging roles. Rather than hiring and firing talent, employees whose jobs are automated can be reskilled for new kinds of roles at organizations.

L&D leaders are planning for the future of work

31%

Organizations with formal future of work plan

30%

Organizations with formal future of work plan

13%

Organizations with formal future of work plan

Source: Udemy Data 2019

2

Automation and AI are new recruits to the workplace

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the nature of office work, freeing people from routine jobs and allowing them to focus on more creative, strategic, and collaborative work.

[The] latest recruits include machines and software intelligence that they are using to bring new skills to help their people do new jobs and invent a new future for themselves and the organization.

Accenture, Intelligent Automation, 2016

Top 6 fastest-growing tech skills in the workplace 2019

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the nature of office work, freeing people from routine jobs and allowing them to focus on more creative, strategic, and collaborative work.

1

Ethereum

2

Microsoft Power BI

3

Kubernetes

4

Amazon AWS

5

Informatica

6

Artificial Intelligence

Source: Udemy Data 2019

3

What the world is learning: New emerging skills by country 2019

Robotic process automation is redefining the workplace

As organizations augment their workforce with digital tools, one of the top brand-new emerging skill across the world is Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Much in the same way that physical robots have revolutionized the manufacturing industry, software robots are now capable of having a similar impact in the office world. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) simply means using modern process automation tools to quickly and reliably replicate how human beings perform routine daily office work on Microsoft Excel & Word documents, web applications, CRMs, desktop apps, APIs, databases, and Citrix terminals.

Hover over to view the top 3 emerging tech skills by country

Source: Udemy Data 2019

Download the report to discover more workplace learning trends and predictions for 2019!

Top 10 fastest-growing tech and soft skills in the workplace

Trending skills by industry

Brand-new emerging skills in 2019

Company case studies on how they’ve navigated automation and digital transformation